Top 10 Famous Angel Statues and the Stories Behind Them

Top 10 Famous Angel Statues and the Stories Behind Them

Top 10 Famous Angel Statues and the Stories Behind Them

Table of Contents

• 1.The Angel with the Cross in Rome, Italy

• 2.The Statue of an Angel , Michelangelo

• 3.Angel with the Crown of Thorns, Berini

• 4.Angel with the Superscription, Berini

• 5.Habakkuk and the Angel, Berini

• 6.Archangel Michael

• 7.Angel of Grief , William Wetmore Story

• 8.The Recording Angel, Lorado Taft

• 9.Angel of Independence, Antonio Rivas Mercado

• 10.Angel of the North, Anthony Gormely

• 11.Knife Angel – Alfie Bradley

Angels have long captured the human imagination as messengers of the divine, protectors of the faithful, and symbols of hope. Across the world, sculptors have given form to these celestial beings in stone, bronze, and steel, each work reflecting the culture, faith, and artistic vision of its creator. Below, we explore ten of the most celebrated angel statues and the fascinating stories they tell.

1. The Angel with the Cross in Rome, Italy

Perched atop the Castel Sant’Angelo overlooking the Tiber River, the Angel with the Cross is one of Rome’s most iconic symbols. Designed by the Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1653, this bronze figure commemorates the legendary appearance of the Archangel Michael in 590 AD, who raised his sword over the city to end a devastating plague. Holding a towering cross, the angel stands as both protector and reminder of faith’s power to bring deliverance.

2. The Statue of an Angel, Michelangelo

Hidden within the cloisters of Florence’s Santo Spirito church lies one of Michelangelo’s rarely-seen angel sculptures. Carved during his early career, this graceful figure demonstrates the developing elegance and anatomical mastery that would later define his masterpieces. Though smaller than his David or Pietà, the statue’s delicate drapery and serene expression capture the youthful genius of the artist.

3. Angel with the Crown of Thorns, Bernini

Also in Rome, Gian Lorenzo Bernini created a poignant marble angel as part of the Ponte Sant’Angelo ensemble. This angel carries the Crown of Thorns, one of the Instruments of the Passion, and its expressive face and flowing robes embody the drama of the Baroque style. Bernini personally oversaw the execution of several angels for the bridge in the late 17th century, inviting passersby to meditate on Christ’s suffering.

Source: Marble Angel with the Crown of Thorns Statue

4. Angel with the Superscription, Bernini

Another of Bernini’s contributions to the Ponte Sant’Angelo is the Angel with the Superscription, holding the INRI sign that hung above Christ on the cross. The twisting form and upward gaze symbolize the bridge between heaven and earth, while the richly detailed marble gives life to the stone. These angels transformed a simple pedestrian bridge into a theological journey.

Source: Marble Angel with the Superscription Statue

5. Habakkuk and the Angel, Bernini

Inside Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome stands a remarkable pair by Bernini: Habakkuk and the Angel. Carved from a single block of marble in 1656, the dynamic composition shows the prophet Habakkuk guided by an angel’s hand. Originally intended for the Chigi family chapel, the sculpture captures a moment of divine inspiration and human wonder, marking a high point of Baroque narrative sculpture.

Source: Bernini Marble Habakkuk and the Angel Statue

6. Archangel Michael

Dominating the summit of Mont Saint-Michel in France, a gleaming statue of Archangel Michael greets pilgrims and tourists alike. Though the original 18th-century statue was destroyed during the Revolution, it was replaced in 1897 by a bronze version sculpted by Georges Diébolt. Michael, sword aloft and wings spread wide, symbolizes triumph over evil and is a fitting guardian for the historic abbey below.

Source: Life-size Marble St. Michael Sculpture

7. Angel of Grief, William Wetmore Story

A departure from triumphal angels, William Wetmore Story’s Angel of Grief mourns at the grave of the sculptor’s wife in Rome’s Protestant Cemetery. Completed in 1894, the weeping, collapsed angel draped over a tomb conveys raw emotion and personal loss. Its Romantic realism and evocative composition have inspired countless replicas and homages in cemeteries around the world.

Source: Marble weeping angel monument

8. The Recording Angel, Lorado Taft

Lorado Taft’s Recording Angel (1923) in Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery holds a stylus and tablet, poised to write the names of the departed in the Book of Life. Carved in Italian marble, this Art Deco–inspired angel blends classical form with modern simplicity. Its quiet dignity has made it a beloved symbol of remembrance and the enduring human yearning for legacy.

Source: Bronze the Recording Angel Memorial

9. Angel of Independence, Antonio Rivas Mercado

In Mexico City’s Plaza de la República stands the soaring Angel of Independence, erected in 1910 to celebrate the centennial of Mexican independence. Designed by Antonio Rivas Mercado, the golden-winged Victoria carries a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory. At 45 meters tall, the monument has witnessed numerous historic events and remains a rallying point for celebrations and protests alike.

Source: Bronze Angel of Independence Statue

10. Angel of the North, Antony Gormley

Moving from classical myths to contemporary art, Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North (1998) straddles a hill in Gateshead, England. Cast in weathering steel and spanning 54 meters, this monumental sculpture references both the form of an angel and the industrial heritage of its location. Its abstracted wings evoke flight and embrace, turning a once-industrial landscape into a space of reflection and community pride.

Source: Angel of the North sculpture

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